A silence fell over the trees as I waited to see what would happen next. Instead of his status disappearing like the other enemies when they died, I could see that he was dead, he was not breathing and I could not hear a heartbeat. I was waiting to see if the Red Ears in the trees were getting ready to attack me. If I had a health bar then I would have two health left, I think my base Health has gone up, but my remaining health has not gone up with it like they do in some games. A humming noise filled the small clearing and the body of the Elder Red Ears was enveloped in a white light. Before my eyes his heart began to beat and he was breathing. Soon the large purple cat was standing in front of me again. “So the hunter of the Wooly Claws has earned the right to hunt in our hunting grounds.” The cat turned and waved a tail in my face, thankfully not hitting me and he and the other cats in the trees vanished. Condition met Title acquired: Hunter: Red Ear Territory. What the hell just happened? I fell back on my butt and shifted to my German shepherd form. I felt stronger with change. My Res and Def raised with the change as well. Now I felt as though a stray tail won’t kill me. I found a good shelter in some roots and settled in so I can heal. Looking at my status now

Name: Elise

Age: 25

Mind: 20/100

Str: 19 Spd: 20 Int: 19 Res: 12 Def: 14

Race: German Shepherd (Earth)

Sex: Female

Gender: Female

Level: 17

Gift: Shapeshifter

Titles: 4

Abilities: 7

Skills: 10

Skill points: 50

I have enough skill points to get Determination. I have a new title as well, but I am not too interested in looking at that. I think that it means that I passed some test the Red Ears give other animals that hunt in their hunting grounds. It would make sense that the pond would be considered one of their hunting grounds. They seem to have such a fondness for the frogs in this pond. I am more interested in how the hell that Elder cat managed came back to life. I think it has something to do with those other cats in the trees. If I could have seen his skills and abilities, or even titles then I would have a clue to what had happened. I am having a hard time thinking as quickly as before. That Int stat boost from my Kitsune form really does make a difference. I also feel a bit empty, as if something is missing now that I cannot sense the magic in the atmosphere. I quickly spend the points to get Determination. Now all I need to do is sleep and regain my Health.

I finally made it. I spent a few days running in my German shepherd form and went back to human a few times, but when I caught sight of a real bridge, one manned by guards on both sides of the water I went back to my Kitsune form. I was not ready to talk to humans yet. Thanks to my handy Determination skill, my speed in my Kitsune form, dragging my ragged pack was almost as fast as my German shepherd form. I can smell the salt in the air. I was always told that oceans are saltwater and that you can tell when you are getting close to one by the smell of salt in the air. I was getting close, my ears could hear the crash of the waves against the shore. I just sat down for a short break when the footsteps caught my attention. Approaching me were three tall beautiful creatures. The first one was tall, with broader shoulders than the others. I can’t tell if it is a man or woman, I can’t tell if any of them are men or women. The first one has short braided dark green and brown hair. Their eyes are a luminescent silver.

Name: Rallan

Age: ???

Mind:???

Str: ??? Spd: ??? Int: ??? Res: ??? Def: ???

Race: S’leni

Sex: --

Gender: Male

Level: ???

Gift: ???

Titles: ???-skill level too low

Abilities: ???- skill level too low

Skills: ??? - skill level too low

The next one was spellbinding, they had long dark green and blue hair with two curved horns protruding from their head. Their eyes are deep glittering gold. Green and blue scales ran from their wrist to their elbows.

Name: Vaene

Age: ???

Mind:???

Str: ??? Spd: ??? Int: ??? Res: ??? Def: ???

Race: S’leni

Sex: --

Gender: --

Level: ???

Gift: ???

Titles: ???-skill level too low

Abilities: ???- skill level too low

Skills: ??? - skill level too low

The third person was taller than the second, but smaller than the first. Broad shoulders, with short curling pink hair. Their eyes were a pale green color.

Name: Coral

Age: ???

Mind:???

Str: ??? Spd: ??? Int: ??? Res: ??? Def: ???

Race: S’leni

Sex: --

Gender: Male

Level: ???

Gift: ????

Titles: ???-skill level too low

Abilities: ???- skill level too low

Skills: ??? - skill level too low

I am confused. What the heck is a S’leni and why is their sex blanked out? Two of them apparently identify as male, but the third was blanked out as well. The three strangers were walking very calmly toward the trees, in the direction of the river. I focused on the word S’leni. I want to know what that is, I have never, not even in my fantasy stories and games heard of those. S’leni: Aquatic race created by and bound to the Goddess Ghala. At least my Analyze skill is high enough to get something about the race. From what it sounds like they live under the water? Are they like fish? Is that why the sex and gender thing is different? Man I get caught up on some of the strangest things when in my Kitsune form. I just need to know things. I would say that cats are supposed to be the curious ones, but I was always a curious child. It is more likely that my high Int stat is just feeding that. The S’leni named Vaene looked over to me and looked me in the eyes. They raised one finger and pressed it to their lips before they turned and disappeared into the trees. Once they were gone I ran in the direction where they had come from. It took me to a small group of rocks overlooking the largest body of water I have ever seen. Endless dark rolling waves stretching farther than I can see. I sat there staring at the water for hours. The sun set and I sat there watching the stars. When the sun rose on the water it met me as a slightly damp, dressed woman with crazy wild hair. I have nothing I can do about the hair for now, but I am finally ready to face the humans of this world. Let my second life truly begin.